Man wearing ammo belt at FSU arrested

An expelled Fitchburg State University student has been arrested after he allegedly returned to campus carrying a belt of semi-automatic bullets.

Although authorities say Andrew K. Despres, 20, of 15 Stowell St., New Bedford, had no weapon, they are taking the situation seriously.

“The individual in question is no longer a Fitchburg State University student,” Matthew J. Bruun, director of public relations at FSU, said in a statement Thursday. “He was processed through our internal judicial system for infractions of our student code of conduct and subsequently expelled from the university earlier this week. The expulsion included a notice he was banned from setting foot on campus.”

Mr. Despres was expelled Monday under FSU’s zero-tolerance policy for allegedly possessing marijuana, knives and firecrackers on school grounds. He was also suspected of defacing property in a dorm bathroom.

He then returned to the campus.

“Upon being sighted on campus Tuesday night, he was immediately arrested,” Mr. Bruun said. “He was not in possession of a weapon and it remains unclear if the ammunition was live.”

Mr. Despres was arraigned in Fitchburg District Court on Wednesday for trespassing on state or county property and possessing ammunition without an FID card.

His bail was set at $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety and he was ordered to stay away from FSU and undergo a mental health evaluation, according to court documents. If he posts bail, Mr. Despres will be monitored by GPS.

According to court documents, he was expelled from school Monday after a conduct hearing. When he returned Tuesday to get his belongings without notifying FSU authorities as directed, university police were told, court documents said. When he refused to leave, he was arrested and the .308-caliber-bullet feeding belt he was wearing was discovered during his arrest at the school, court documents said. State police were then notified.

The belt was described in police reports as feeding ammunition used by the military for large-capacity rifles.

It is unclear if his home in New Bedford was searched for weapons.

“The university will have no further comment on the specifics of this case as it moves through the court system,” Mr. Bruun said. “As always, the university takes the safety of the campus community extremely seriously and we will continue to work with all relevant authorities to assure its security.”